Page 119 of Kaine

Chapter Forty-Five

HIM

I hear fire enginesirens even before I get there. I’m sure behind me a police car is following us, but this car will not stop until I get to Jade. To the library, where over a hundred people have congregated to hear about ASH Industries’ new fire safety product.

“How long, Henry, how long?” I ask him, after the car has stalled in traffic for over five minutes.

“I think you better get out and walk, Mr. Ashley,” Henry advises, his voice serious.

I get out but I don’t walk. I run.

It’s five more blocks, but when I take a split second to look up, the air is filled with enough smoke to fill a city skyline. That’s the thing about New York City. It’s lauded as a vast metropolis, but the only thing vast about it is the amount of lives. Little things that happen here can cause a big ripple that echoes in the hearts of millions.

There’s a crowd outside gathering. I scan it for that face, the one face.

She’s not there.

“Kaine!” I hear my name called but it’s not the right voice. I spin around and Harriet separates herself, still panting, from the group.

“Where is she?” I ask.

“I don’t know, I was just leaving the office when the fire broke out and I was dragged out here by the group. I tried to find her but I couldn’t. I didn’t have time.”

“Okay, and you’re alright?” She nods. “Good. I’m... I’m going in.”

“You can’t, Kaine. Just let them...”

I don’t hear the rest of her sentence. I pull off my suit coat and run for the entrance.

“You can’t go in there, sir... just, just leave it for the firemen,” somebody blocks me.

“No! I’m going in,” I push past him.

“No. I’m sorry, you can’t.”

Another joins him, using their bodies to block me. I don’t want to waste any time trying to argue. I can already taste the bile in my throat, my body sick thinking that she might still be inside.

I run down the side alley faster than I’ve run in my life.

Where is the fire coming from? There’s no clue of it from the outside.

I get to the back entrance and fling open the door. A plume of smoke immediately envelopes me. I take two massive clean breaths and hurl myself into the building. From memory, there’s a long hallway before the turn into the main hall where Jade’s office and the launch was going to be held. I close my eyes and hold my breath and run the 20 yards I think is the length of the hallway, then I drop to my knees and turn around the corner into the hall.

My skin instantly feels like it’s melting.

I’ve felt it before. None of this is new to me.

“JADE!” I yell and wait for her reply but all I hear is the sound of flames burning into paper, into wood, eviscerating thousands of books in its path.

“JADE!” I call again, not caring that I only have seconds left of air.

I’m not leaving without her.

I’m leaving with her. Or not at all. What would be the point?